Millions in fake items seized at CVG, LOU shipping hubs

Items include fake 2013 Super Bowl jerseys

A recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation at the express consignment hubs of DHL in Cincinnati and UPS in Louisville has netted more than $3.4 million in counterfeit items including counterfeit 2013 NFL Super Bowl team jerseys.

"CBP officers at the DHL and UPS express consignment facilities have seized more than 60,000 counterfeit items over the past nine days during this intellectual property enforcement operation," said William A. Ferrara, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in Chicago, in a news release. "This counterfeit merchandise hurts consumers by being substandard and it hurts the U.S. economy as well. Also federal investigations have shown that some of these counterfeiting organizations are linked to other criminal enterprises."

As the federal agency responsible for border protection, CBP officers and import specialists are involved in the seizure of goods infringing upon trademarks, trade names and copyrights.

During the weeks and days leading up to major sporting events, an array of products with the trademark and names of the popular teams are manufactured and made available to fans even though the companies are not licensed to produce these trademarked items.

CBP said it works closely with the trademark holders and the private sector to distinguish authentic jerseys, hats and other items from the fakes.

As in years past, China remains the primary source of counterfeit and pirated goods coming into the United States representing 72 percent of all counterfeit seizures.